Biomarker for ovarian and endometrial cancer: hepcidin

Abstract

The present invention provides protein-based biomarkers and biomarker combinations that are useful in qualifying ovarian cancer status as well as endometrical cancer status in a patient. In particular, it has been found that hepcidin is a biomarker for both ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer and that a panel of biomarkers, including hepcidin, transthyretin and optionally other markers are useful to classify a subject sample as ovarian cancer or non-ovarian cancer. The biomarkers can be detected by SELDI mass spectrometry.

1. A method for qualifying ovarian cancer status in a subject comprising: (a) measuring the level of hepcidin in a biological sample from the subject being screened for ovarian cancer; and (b) correlating the measurement of an increased level of hepcidin in the biological sample from the subject as compared to the level of hepcidin in a biological sample from a healthy subject with the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the level of hepcidin is measured by mass spectrometry. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein mass spectrometry is SELDI-MS. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the level of hepcidin is measured by immunoassay. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is blood or a blood derivative. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is ovarian cyst fluid, ascites, or urine. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the correlating is performed by executing a software classification algorithm. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein ovarian cancer is stage I or II ovarian cancer. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has been treated for ovarian cancer and the ovarian cancer is recurrence of cancer. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein non-ovarian cancer is a gynecological condition selected from benign ovarian cyst, endometriosis, uterine fibroma, breast cancer and cervical cancer. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: (c) reporting the status to the subject. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: recording the status on a tangible medium. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: (c) managing subject treatment based on the status. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: (d) measuring the level of hepcidin after subject management and correlating the measurement with disease progression.